New PSU for RTX 3080

nlel1975 · 11 Oct 2020 at 18:29

So I'm planning to get an RTX 3080 when they are available but my PSU is an old Antec BP550 Plus from 2010. It has 1x 8pin and 1x 6pin connectors for graphics card and I'm currently using both to power my Radeon RX580.

Graphics card needs 2x 8pin but you can get away with using 1x 8pin and 1x 6pin in the other 8pin socket.

I hear the new 3080 need a 12pin connector and you'll likely get a 2x 8pin to 1x 12pin connector with the new graphics card.

Question is will I get away with using 1x 8pin and 1x 6pin in the 2x 8pin to 1x 12pin connector and if not what is a good PSU I can upgrade too, I'd preferably want one with the 12pin connector as standard.

pastymuncher · 11 Oct 2020 at 19:47

You need a new psu. Even aside from the fact it's 10 years old, it's a low quality psu that only has 384w across it's 12v rails so has nowhere near enough power. A couple of questions before we can recommend a wattage. What are the rest of your components, is the cpu overclocked and do you intend to overclock the gpu? I would expect you to need a good quality psu of around 750w so factor in a extra £100-120 for a decent psu.

nlel1975 · 12 Oct 2020 at 12:45

I have a Ryzen 5 2600, with 32GB of RAM (two 16GB sticks). A 1.8TB NVMe drive, an 8TB HDD, a 256GB SSD and a 1TB HDD. Currently running a Radeon RX580 graphics card. Nothing is overclocked.

Smiffy-UK · 12 Oct 2020 at 15:42

https://outervision.com/power-supply-calculator

Try that

EsaT · 12 Oct 2020 at 17:27

With Nvidia's lack of power efficiency advance and about record level power draw figures for Ampere 650W is pretty much what I would call as sensible starting level.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/search?sSearch=phanteks+amp

wellibob · 12 Oct 2020 at 19:00

I have been running a near 8 year old CX750M psu in my main rig. (currently a 3900x, 32 gig ram, 5 tb of nvme/ssd's & a 1080ti on a B550 tomahawk ) Just ordered up a Superflower 850 gold ready for a Rtx 3080 when they're available.
Looking for a decent psu for nearly 2 years but the corsair just kept on giving even though it got slayed as a cheap arse branded psu and told multiple times what I ran on it would end up potentially in tears.
850w is what I believe is suitable for a top end rig with a 3080. Never been one to go overboard with wattage and I feel 850w is going a bit ott
Everyone's opinions differ and I've had nothing but good luck with branded psu's ranging from 500w to 750w the last ten years. My other systems have newer psu's and bought when on offers (mainly Evga bronze 600w units )

pastymuncher · 12 Oct 2020 at 19:33

I would go with a 750w unit to allow extra headroom for future upgrades. With that in mind take a look at these three. They are all quality, fully modular psu's and all have good length warranties, 7 years on the Superflower and 10 years on the other two.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x Super Flower Leadex III 750W 80 PLUS Gold Modular Power Supply - Black= £99.95
1 x Corsair RM Series RM750 750W '80 Plus Gold' Modular Power Supply (CP-9020195-UK)= £99.95
1 x Phanteks AMP 750W 80 Plus Gold Modular Power Supply= £99.95

If you really want 850w then the bigger versions of the above are a good buy.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x Super Flower Leadex III 850W 80 PLUS Gold Modular Power Supply - Black= £112.99
1 x Corsair RM Series RM850 850W '80 Plus Gold' Modular Power Supply (CP-9020196-UK)= £114.95

nlel1975 · 13 Oct 2020 at 12:52

Anything coming out with a 12 pin graphics connector as standard?

pastymuncher · 13 Oct 2020 at 19:00

Not at the moment and I doubt that any will. Isn't it a case of only the Nvidia Founders Editions have these new sockets and they come with the adaptors anyway? From what I have seen so far from the non-FE cards they use standard connectors so there isn't really a demand for the 12 pin connectors and hopefully this new connection will disappear as quickly as it arrived.

Kelt · 16 Oct 2020 at 19:23

nlel1975 said:
Anything coming out with a 12 pin graphics connector as standard?

I don't think PSU manufacturers are going to cater for the 25 people who managed to purchase a 3080 FE worldwide.

pp111 · 17 Oct 2020 at 19:40

nlel1975 said:
Anything coming out with a 12 pin graphics connector as standard?

Corsair are doing a cable for their power supplies. They will be out soon. If you get a Corsair, 650W is enough but I would recommend a 850W because they are are rarely that much more money and have a LOT more suitable sockets for graphics cards and CPU's ( do you well in future ).

Rom · 17 Oct 2020 at 23:33

My 3080 is pulling 450w in benchmarks. As above, you will definitely need something bigger.
I will say, mine is a 12 year old HX1000!

I have replaced it though (waiting on Ryzen 9 to build it) with an 850

zx128k · 20 Oct 2020 at 04:17

You should use a wattage calculator, https://seasonic.com/wattage-calcul...U8J3geFli1BTQfL_fNKfY40V6NH9DZiYKWD5adGLOINK3

Most 3080 card manufactures recommend a 750-850 watt PSU.

Check this reveiw of the FE 3080 https://www.igorslab.de/en/nvidia-g...-step-ahead-and-the-gravestone-for-turing/12/

https://www.igorslab.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/04-Peak-Power.png

https://www.igorslab.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/03-Power-Conumption.png

**Do Not Hotlink images **

This gets worse as the power limit increases.

danlightbulb · 1 Nov 2020 at 20:30

Seems very difficult to get an 850W PSU at the moment.

Any good choices other than Corsair and Superflower?

nlel1975 · 9 Feb 2021 at 13:10

I've been donated a Thermaltake Toughpower XT GOLD 1275W PSU

My cousin gave my brother two of these and he gave one to me knowing I'll need a more powerful PSU for the 6800 XT or RTX 3080. Much better than my current Antec Basiq 550W.

nlel1975 · 10 Feb 2021 at 13:11

It’s got 1x 24 pin motherboard power plug, 2x 8 pin CPU power plugs, 6x 8 pin graphics card cables but I only have 5 of them and 2x cables each with 4 SATA power and one molex power.

The PSU was released in 2012 from what I can gather, my current PSU is from 2010. I’ve never run more than one graphics card in any of my systems so won’t miss the missing cable.

nlel1975 · 10 Feb 2021 at 16:42

Just spent the last few hours trying to install this PSU... So I got it mostly installed so just checked it powered on - it did. So I put it all back together and then it wouldn’t power on. So I checked the power switch cable hadn’t come out and then removed the power of everything and still no luck.

So I connected my old PSU and it didn’t power on with that either, so then I thought maybe it’s the fuse in the plug so I used a different power cable and voila it powered on. So looks like the fuse had blown, lucky I had a spare cable.

Do these high wattage PSU need high amp fuses, I wasn’t given the power cable that originally came from the PSU my cousin kept it, I’m starting to see why.

nukem2011 · 10 Feb 2021 at 19:05

G3 evga 850 is amazing psu

nlel1975 · 11 Feb 2021 at 16:13

I’m quite happy with this Thermaltake XT Gold 1275W I’ve been donated. It may date back to 2012 but still holds its own against other more modern PSUs. Can’t believe how expensive PSUs are these days.

In fact my previous Antec Basiq 550W from 2010 was still holding its own with my Radeon RX 580 Ryzen 5 2600 system. Only needed a better PSU for the RX 6800 XT or RTX 3080.

nlel1975 · 23 Apr 2021 at 17:18

Well the Thermaltake XT Gold 1275W I was donated didn’t work out. After about 45 minutes of power on, it always started making squeaking sounds and now the PC freezes. I’ve kept it in because I couldn’t be bothered to put the old Antec back in and haven’t needed to use the machine that much.

So I’ve ordered a EVGA 750 BQ, 80+ BRONZE 750W for £ 58.32 ex VAT. Specs here...
https://www.evga.com/products/Specs/PSU.aspx?pn=9b847cc8-dbf8-421c-aebb-45ef91000953

It’ll be a step up from my Antec Basiq 550W and should be able to run a 6800XT just fine as I’m not getting a RTX 3080 anymore.